Former Waukesha Bar Owner Sentenced To 15 Years Federal Prison

WAUKESHA, WI — A man found guilty of setting fire to The Stage Off Main in 2017 has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.

Authorities said Brian Whitton, 42, was found guilty following a federal jury trial on charges of arson of a commercial building, two counts of mail fraud, arson to commit a second felony offense and making a false statement to law enforcement agencies.

According to a news release from the U.S. Eastern District Court of Wisconsin, jurors determined that Whitton set fire to The Stage Off Main, 854 Martin St. in March 2017. Jurors determined the fire started in the basement of the building.

Surveillance video captured Whitton quickly leaving the basement, emptying the cash registers, and leaving the bar exactly 18 seconds before smoke started to fill the first floor of the building, authorities said.

According to investigators, another fire was set around 3 a.m. when the upper apartment unit was occupied by two tenants and a guest. Nobody was injured as a result of the fire but the building sustained damage, investigators said.

Federal officials said Whitton had been experiencing financial difficulty and submitted a fraudulent claim to his insurance carrier. Authorities said he falsely claimed the fire was the result of an accident. Whitton also repeatedly lied about his activities immediately preceding the fire to investigators, a news release said.

In addition to prison time, Whitton will also be required to spend 3 years on supervised release following his prison sentence and has been ordered to pay back more than $160,000 to an insurer.